Friday, November 20, 2015

How well do you know your #LGBTHistory? A full-length documentary about loud & legendary Texas LGBT rights activist Ray Hill is in the works that will go a long way in educating the masses. The #TroubleWithRay shares the stories of some of the greatest civil rights legends in my home-state of Texas, and this incredibly important film could really use your support.

"The Trouble With Ray" documents the history of LGBT heroes in Texas, of all places, and provides a lively overview of a life lived courageously in a world where fear and shame rule. Thanks to a small group of activists – with Ray Hill’s shocking mouth at the megaphone – a thriving LGBT community was born in the heart of ultra-conservative Texas and proudly marched their concerns to the national stage.

The #TroubleWithRay started out as a 6-minute video commissioned by Comcast for their online channel, Houston's Voice. From there, it was developed into a 24-minute short that premiered at at the Directors Guild of America Theater in Los Angeles as part of the 2014 Houston Film Commission’s Texas Filmmaker's Showcase and has since then screened at a number of other high profile film festivals.

This past March #TroubleWithRay screened at the American Documentary Film Festival and was successfully pitched feature-length project for consideration for the AmDocs Film Fund - now an official supporter of the project who will screen the final version upon completion.

If you have the means, please consider helping out. There are some amazing perks for donating to the #TROUBLEWITHRAY Kickstarter, too: everything from shoutouts on FB & Twitter, or a digital download of the completed film straight on up to a Co-Producer title in the film's credits, an invitation to the film premiere, and a very special lunch or dinner with the film's creative team and the man himself, Ray Hill. So, let's spread the word so this important part of our history can be documented and shared with the world, and generations to come.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

I was in Berlin recently and got to chatting with a new friend who turned me on to this awesome music festival (YO! SISSY) that's running a Kickstarter right now to raise funds for its second edition next summer.

YO! SISSY is Germany's first international queer music festival whose first edition took place this past summer. Spread out over 3 days and 3 venues, YO! SISSY featured took place this past summer over the course of 3 days, 3 different venues, and featured over 50 acts from 15 different countries. Headliners included Peaches, Crystal Waters, JD Samson, CHRISTEENE, The Hidden Cameras, Cakes da Killa, Hi-Fashion, Hard Ton, and many more.

YO! SISSY 2016 will take place July 29 - 31. The festival's goal is to showcase upcoming local talent with established international acts. YO! SISSY focuses on promoting diversity within its performers, specifically female and trans* identified artists.

Donations will directly support queer artists from all over the world, to put together and pay a small team of staff in order to manage the basic operations of the festival, and ideally to incorporate more acts and support more artists and lower ticket prices!